Philadelphia Names Two Streets After Gay Heroes

Philadelphia has named two streets after two of the city’s most influential LGBT Civil Rights Movement figures: Barbara Gittings and Frank Kameny. The streets will be dedicated to the two on Oct. 1. Known as the Mother of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement, Gittings resided in Philadelphia and was the editor of the first lesbian publication. With Frank Kameny, she organized the Annual Reminders at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Gittings spearheaded the successful initiative to have the American Library Association include gay and lesbian books in the nation’s card catalogues and libraries. Kameny and Gittings challenged the American Psychiatric Association, resulting in homosexuality being removed from the list of mental illnesses. The dedication ceremony will mark the beginning of LGBT History Month.